A Pinay mom (and grandmom!) from Cavite and Rizal blogs on her insights & anecdotes about her Filipino family life, home, motherhood, parenting, lifestyle, health, home & fitness tips, entertainment, current issues and more...

Tuesday, April 29, 2008

My son and a couple of his teammates have been looking for an apartment or condominium or house to rent for the coming academic year. I have my own list of requirements. The place has to be a stone throw away from their school for easy commute. The place has to be secure and the neighborhood peaceful. The place has to have passed the fire code in that zone: should be clean and presentable and of course, affordable.

They have found a condo unit in one of the neighboring villages near the school. It is a well-ventilated and lighted 2-bedroom unit with two toilets and baths, a compact kitchen-dining-living room and a squeeze-tight laundry area. The building itself has 24/7 security guard, working fire escapes, an elevator, 2 sets of stairwells, a penthouse, and a weight's room. The architect in me gave the place 7/10. Not bad.How much? It's 12,000 Php per month excluding utilities. So that will be 4,000 Php as my son's share of the rent plus water and electricity bills. Umm.. okay still within my price range. However, we need to make a 2 month's deposit and one month advance bringing the total to 36,000 Php down payment which translates to 12,000 Php for my son's initial share.

But that is robbery! I told my son. But mom!!.... cried the son. Okay. Let's see the contract so wecan sign right away. As I read the contract the more I became convinced that the owner was indeed a legitimate robber.

Aside from the 36,000 Php deposit and advance, we need to issue 12 checks for the association fee of 2,350 Php per month. What association fees? I asked.

Oh, that's usual for condo units, you know, to use for the 24/7 security guards said the thief err, owner. There are 60 units in the building multiply that by 2350 Php totals 141,000 Php allotted for the guards' salary. Wow, lucky guards indeed!

Well, what about the clause that says the lessee have to pay for the real estate taxes, fire insurance , and other related fees?, I exclaimed, my eyes bulging, which was really not intimidating as I am chinky-eyed. There is also no guarantee that we can get back our 36,000 Php deposit and advance since you might qualify the unit in need of major repairs because of misuse!, I added.

Ah, well that's the way it goes here the owner said quite irritated.

I conferred with the parents of my son's teammates. They were also astounded by the seemingly unfair terms of the owner. We said no to our devastated sons. They were so bent on that condo unit. To ease their aching hearts, I promised to go apartment-hunting with them on Thursday.